Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 18: The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety has asked the Maharashtra government to conduct a thorough and independent crash investigation into the horrific Pune–Bengaluru highway accident that claimed eight lives and left 13 others injured.

In a letter to Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar, committee chairman and former Supreme Court judge Abhay Manohar Sapre said the severity of the crash warranted a detailed and unbiased probe. He recommended that the investigation be entrusted to a reputed technical institute such as IIT-Delhi, equipped to analyse causes, identify accountability and recommend preventive measures.

Sapre noted that the inquiry must uncover any systemic failures, including lapses in safety regulations, vehicle maintenance, emergency response, and enforcement of road norms that may have contributed to the high fatalities.

The tragic pile-up occurred last Thursday near Navale Bridge, where 20–25 vehicles collided in a chain reaction reportedly triggered by a container truck, after which multiple vehicles caught fire. The committee members were in Pune on an inspection tour when the accident took place.

Stating that credible findings would help ensure accountability and strengthen public safety, the panel stressed the need for investigation by experts in accident reconstruction, simulation and data analysis. It added that an IIT-led probe would significantly enhance the credibility of the entire process.

The recommendation comes against the backdrop of the Motor Vehicles Act, which mandates detailed inquiries into major road crashes, most of which are presently conducted by government agencies or NGOs.